Conveyer chain



Oct. 1o, 1944. F. L. WEER mL 2,360,057

CONVEYER CHAIN Filed March 18, 14942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5" n f; ff' f/faf/f y /N mmf-0,95,

7 fm, ATTO/@V575 Oct 10, 1944. F. L; KLAIBER ET AL 2,360,057

CONVEYER CHAIN Filed Mariah 1a, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTO/VEYS.

Patented Oct. 10, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,360,057 coNvEYERCHAIN Frank L. Klaiber, Bualo, N. Y., and Harlan C.

Clark, Columbus,

Ohio, assignors to R. G.

Wright Company, Inc., Buialo, N. Y. Application March 18, 1942, SerialNo. 435,198

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in chains and more particularlyto improvements in conveyer chains.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a conveyer chain ofsturdy and simple construction, comprising alternate main linksconnected by loop links. A further object of this invention is toprovide a chain of this type in which the main links are so formed thatthey can be easily produced in quantities and at low cost. Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a chain which is so formed thatit may be assembled, lengthened and shortened without the use of toolsor implements. Another object is to provide a chain of this type inwhich alternate or connecting links between the main links of the chainare in the form of split or two-piece cone necting links, and in whichthe main links areV so formed that in all normal positions of the chainwhile in use the parts of the split links are held in correct relationto each other without securing the parts together. Another object is toprovide -a chain of this type in which the spliI loop links can beremoved only when a main link of the chain is moved into a positionapproximately 180 from its normal position. Another object is to providea chain in which a loop link may be placed into operative relation to orremoved from the chain only if two main links are positioned with theirbottom faces adjacent to each other and if the loop link is swung into aposition crosswise of the length of the chain.

A further object of this invention is to provide a conveyer chain ofthis type with means of improved construction for cooperation with guidemembers to maintain the chain in its desired path of movement.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from thefollowing description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a conveyer chain embodyingthis invention, and of a sprocket wheel with which the chain cooperates.

Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof, partly in section, on an enlarged scale,the section being approximately on line 2 2, Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View thereof, partly in section, on line 3 3, Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is an end view, on a still larger scale, of one of the main linksof the chain, showing the link in its operative relation to supportingand guide members for the chain.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation of the chain on line 5 5,Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of a chain of modifiedconstruction.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section, on line 1 1, Fig.6.

Fig. 8 is an end view of one of the links of the chain.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a portion of the chain showing two of themain links in such relation to each other as to permit removal of one ofthe connecting links.

Fig. 10 is an end view of the links shown in Fig. 9.

Our improved chain includes main links I5 and a series of loop shapedconnecting links I6. 'Ihe main links are preferably all identical andeach link is provided with means intermediate of the ends thereof forcooperation with driving and guide wheels. In Fig. l, we have shown asprocket wheel Il having teeth I8 and the main links of the chain areprovided in the middle portions thereof with means for mechanicallycooperating with the wheels I'I, such, for example, as apertures orsockets I9 formed to receive and cooperate with sprocket teeth I 8. Itwill be understood, however, that any other cooperating connections'between the wheels I 'I and main links of the chain may be provided andthe words sprocket wheel are hereinafter employed as designating anytype of wheel adapted to cooperate with the chain for propelling orguiding it. In the particular construction shown, the apertures orsockets I9 are formed in bosses or body portions 20 of the main links,which extend downwardly from relatively flat upper webs or panels 2| ofthe links.

The connections between the main links and the loops I 6 are formed byproviding the main links with longitudinally extending upright webs 24,which may be formed integral with bosses 20 of the chain and with theupper panels 2I of the links, thus forming a rigid unitary structure inwhich the webs 24 reinforce the bosses and the upper panels of the mainlinks. Each web is provided with a transversely extending hole oraperture 25 which is somewhat larger in diameter than the crosssectional diameter of the metal of the looped connecting member or linkI6 which extends into the aperture 25. The ends of the loop members orlinks are rounded or curved, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, andconsequently, it will be obvious that the chain may be nexed not only inpassing around a sprocket wheel as indicated in Fig. 1, but alsosidewaysrin either direction, since the loose t of the looped connectinglinks in the holes 25 will permit the 2 main links to swing'laterallyrelatively to the loop links to any desired extent.

The loop links may be of any suitable or desired construction, mostv ofthose shown being of the type disclosed in the Thompson Patent No.

Y193,295 O'Jllly 17, 1877, in Which each link is formed of two halflinks of approximately C shape, the two halves being identical in form`and `iitting together to form a link of approximately the same shape asa single piece loop link. Each `half link may be provided with studs orprojections 21 adapted to enter into holes or recesses r23 of the otherhalf link, the oppositely disposed v middle portions 29 of each link`being Vsolid YorV with the cross sectional circumference ofthe linkleit whole. Y

When the two parts of any of these split links Y are in their operativepositions with relation to the main links of the chain, the two halveswill be kept in operative. relation to `each other by means of the holes25 inthe main links, and consequently, it is vunnecessary Whentheselinks are used to 1 rivet over the studs 21 in ordjer toprevent the twohalves or partsof the links from becoming separated lor'disengaged fromeach other androm -the main links.

Conveyer `clirai'ns Vmust ordinarily VVbe readilyv adjustableas to theirlengths lso thatV each chain may properly cooperate withA the particularconveyer onwhich it is'used,and1it frequently. happens that after theconveyer has been in operation for sometime, the chain becomes slack'and two adjacent main links can be turned from its lengthwise positionrelatively to the chain into a transverse position, as shown in Figs. 9and 10.

In order to assemble these split loop links on an adjacent pair of mainlinks, it is necessary to rst insert a half link into one hole 25 of oneof the main links, andthe otherV half link into the hole 2.5 of theother main link, and to turn the half links into transverse positions,so that the solid portions 29 of the half links are within the holes 25.The two adjacent main links i are v then positioned relatively to eachother so that vthe lower portions of these links are adjacent to itmaybenecessaryto shorten` it .by removing one Y for 'moreylinks.Our/improved chain is so'V constructed that the lugs orprojections21 ofthe l split links .neednotbe riveted over, so that links mayreadily Vbeierrloved from Ythe chain, and We have. further constructed'our improved chain in Ysuc-h a manner-.that the Vsplit links ywill beheld intheir. operative positions on the chain during al1...n`ormalpositionsofthe links relatively to f (each other.y Thisis doneV bythelocation -of the Y holes'or apertures 25 inthe webs 24-with relation tothe endso'ffthese websiand to their lower edges.

. The.y main links are so formed that the split linksban only be removedfrom vthe adjacent Ymain links the split links are turned throughapproximatelya-right angle tothe adjacentgmain links, 'or in' otherwords transversely of thev length of thechain. ,Since the space'twithinthe split Y, loop links is considerably longer than its width,

. l the mainYlinks-are soV formed that during Vall 'normal Vpositionsrof theV chain, the split lfinkscanno't v v be turned into 'transverseVpositions, Vand, lhence cannot be removed fron'rthe chain.

eachother or in contact, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, whereupon thehalves of the loop links may be swung from the broken line positions inFig. 9 to the full line positions, thus assembling a loop link. The looplink is then turned from its'transverse position into its normal oroperative position in which it extends generally lengthwiseof the mainlinks. When in this positiornthe two halves of the link will be held inoperative rela-V tion to `each other by the portions of the Ywebs 24surroundingthe holes 25, and the two main linksl can then be swung intonormal relation to each other.

when it is desired tors'movs a loop nnkgit is be separated with a halfof each loop link connected therewith. When the main linksvareseparated,Y the halves or the loop links may, of

course, be easily` moved out of the holes 25. y

From the foregoing description, it willfbe ap# parent that Vafter achainhas been assembled, a Y Y split loop link can only be removed if, in theirst n Itw'ill' be-'noted by4 reference to Fig. 2, of the Y drawings,4that if two adjacent-'main ,links be moved toward each other in thedirection ofthe length of' the cha-in or atan angle of less than about180 to eachother, the loop link cannot be turned -into a transverseposition; due tothe fact' that" thegholes- 25 Vare 'locatedat such dis-:split link. i Howevenin zorder to make it possible place, two adjacentmain Vlinks'ar'e swung into ythe positions shown in Figs. 9 and l0, andifthe Y loop link is then'moved through an angle o about 90.Consequently, even if two adjacent main links, while inuse, assume thevery abnormal positions shown in Figs. gland l0,V the loop links couldstill'not bei removed from their connection with the mainv links unlessthe splitv loop links were also turned through .an angle .of 90,

4 so that/.the inadvertent separating of. the' parts of thechainduringnormal operation of the same is practically impossible. By means of thisconstruction, a chain may readilyfrand.easilybeas sernbled,r lengthened,or shortened`V without the use Vof anyrtools or implements.

It is, of course, not necessary loop links be of the split or removabletype. One

' piece loop chain links o-f ordinary construction,

, as Yindicated at 3i at the right hand-side of Fig. 1,'

mayV be employed if desired, such links being usually'made ofA bentsteel rods, the opposite'erids` Y of'which may, if desired, beweldedtogether. It

' is desirable, however, Athat a pluralityY of the split Vtopiositonandremove the spit'loop'linksjr'elaf tivel-yto ther main links,the holes 25 are located inmuch'closer proximity tothe lower 'edges 26of' the webs `24 than they 'are to the -front and rear portionsV ofthesewebs, so that if-two'adjacent Y links' 'are' swung relatively. toteach other sothat' `twf'f-'pie'ce loop links be employed to permitadjus'tmentpf the `conveyer chain, and' if`desired,

all of the loop links maybe ofthe two'piecesplit time Y The upper YfacesofV the'main links may be. oi

" lany suitable or desired Yfo-rmioruse in connection` with diierenttypescf conveyers, and if desired,V theupper panels may Ibeoienlarged@sizeV as that ,an wsf the' 'shown at 33 in Figs. 6 to 8 tosupport bottles, cans, or other articles. These upper panels may beprovided with any desired number of drain holes 34, and one end of eachweb may be of convex arc shape as indicated at 35 while the other end isof similar concave are shape 36, so that the upper webs of the links mayform a substantially continuous conveyor surface and may swingrelatively to each other laterally in passing around an arc or curve.

The chain shown in Figs, 6 to 8 inclusive may otherwise be of the sameconstruction as that shown in Figs. 1 to 5, being provided withforwardly and rearwardly extending webs 38 at opposite ends thereofprovided with apertures 39 into which loop links 40 may extend, theapertures 39 being positioned relatively to the ends and bottoms of thewebs 38, as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5.

It is also possible to provide the main links with suitable means forguiding them on a conveyer. For example, the links shown in Figsl to areprovided at the middle portions thereof with laterally projectingextensions 45, which may, if desired, be portions of the bosses 20. and

the upper portions of these projections l5 may form shoulders 46 adaptedto cooperate with a pair of guide plates or bars 41, Fig. 4, which mayform a part of the conveyor with which our improved chain cooperates. Inthis case, the chain may operate upon a suitable support orV platform48. In the construction shown in Figs. 6 to 8, spaced lateral lugs orprojections 50 and 5! may be provided on each side of the central'bossvof each main link, the lugs 5B and 5| being spaced apart to formrecesses or grooves 52 adapted to receive guide plates 53 of a conveyer,see Fig. 8. 'Any other means for guiding our improved chain on aconveyer may be employed, if desired;

By means of the construction described, the location of the holes orapertures in the upright webs prevents the turning of any split linkinto a position in which its largest dimension is transverse of thechain, except when two adjacent main links are arranged with their lowersurfaces substantially in contact. The location of these apertures withreference to the ends of the webs is, however, also important inconnection with one-piece links as shown at 3l, in that the chain whenin normal position will prevent the links from turning into transversepositions, and thus ensure them being maintained in their longitudinalpositions in which they offer the greatest strength against breaking ordeformation.

We claim as our invention:

l. A sprocket chain comprising a plurality of substantially identicalmain links havingthe middle portions thereof formed with sockets forcooperation with the teeth of a sprocket wheel and substantially flatupper load carrying portions integral therewith, upright webs extendingforwardly and rearwardly from said middle portion and of materially lessthickness than the width of said upper portions and formed integral withsaid middle portions and said upper portions and having aperturestherein extending laterally through said webs adjacent to the endsthereof, and substantially identical loop-shaped split links extendingloosely through adjacent apertures of a pair of main links and eachcomprising a pair of C-shaped parts disposed relatively to each other toform a closed loop, said upright webs, when in operative relation toeach other, holding said parts against separation and permitting removalof said parts only when the two adjacent main links are swung throughapproximately 180 from their straight line positions.

2. A sprocket chain comprising a plurality of main links formed withsockets for cooperation with a sprocket wheel, upright webs on saidlinks extending lengthwise thereof toward the ends of said main linksand having apertures therein extending laterally through said webs, andelongated loop-shaped quickly detachable split links extending looselythrough adjacent apertures of a pair of main links and formed of twocomplementary substantially C-shaped parts so constructed that whenplaced together, they form a closed loop, said apertures in said websbeing spaced from the lower edges of said webs, so that the distancebetween said apertures of two adjacent main links when the same areswung into positions with their lower edges in contact is less than thetransverse dimension of the space enclosed by said loop links, to permitsaid loop links to be swung into positions with their major dimensionextending transversely of said main links to permit separation of theparts of said split links, the distance between said apertures and otheredge portions of their webs being greater than said distance betweensaid apertures and said lower edges to prevent swinging of said looplinks into transverse positions when said main links are in otherpositions than with their lower edges substantially in contact.

3. A main link for a sprocket chain formed for cooperation with anelongated loop-shaped link, said main link comprising a central portionrecessed to receive a sprocket tooth, webs integral with and extendingfrom said central portion to the opposite ends of said link and havingan l aperture in each web for cooperation with other links, and pairs ofspaced projections extending laterally from opposite sides of saidcentral portion and belowV and spaced from the portion forming the uppersurface of said main link and forming slots for cooperation with guidemembers of a conveyer, to hold said links against upward and downwardmotion relatively to the guide members.

4. A sprocket chain comprising a plurality of substantially identicalmain links each having a portion intermediate of the ends thereofconstructed for cooperation with a sprocket wheel, webs extendingforwardly and rearwardly from said intermediate portion and havingapertures extending through said webs, and an elongated loop-shapedsplit link formed of two complementary C-shaped parts placed together insuperposed relation and forming a closed loop, the superposed ends ofsaid C-shaped parts extending through adjacent apertures of two adjacentlinks and held against separation from each other only by the edges ofsaid apertures, said main links being so constructed that when swungwith their bottom faces in contact, the split link can be moved with itsmajor axis extending crosswise of the chain, to permit separation of theparts thereof.

5. A chain length comprising a plurality of links disposed approximatelyend to end, each imain link having a generally iiat load carrying faceand a web at each end which is approximately normal to said face, eachweb having an aperture therethrough, an elongated, loopshaped split linkformed of two complementary C-shaped parts, the height of the C of eachpart being greater than its width and the gap in the C being greateracross than the thickness of each of said webs, and said parts whenplaced tol gether face' to face, with the gap vof each part embracingthe part opposite the gap in the comy plementary part, forming aclosedlink, whereby v'LA chain assembly comprising a plurality Vof main linksdisposed approximately end to end I and each having a body with an uppercarrying when said parts of said split link are separated, f

each can be threaded through the aperture in a web of a main link untilthe web encircles the link; part opposite the gap of that part, theparts then can be brought together face to faceV when ,180 from theirnorrnalV straight linev positions, and turned as a unit throughapproximately `a right anglefto carry the ends of the split link intothe' apertures of webs Vof the main links through which the parts arethreaded, lsaidsplit f link'bein'g removable from said main links onlywhen vsaid main links are again swung into said 180 positions and saidsplit link is swung through i constructed that, whenY placed together,they l form a closed loop, said apertures in said webs being spacedfrom, a longitudinal edge of said web a distance not more than ,halfofthe Ywidth of the openingin said split links and being spaced Afromthe ends of said websv a distance greater than half of the width of saidopening and less than half of the length of.. the opening in saidsplit'links, said main links Vwhen 'swung into a i position with thelongitudinal edges of the webs vof adjacent links substantially incontactY with v each other, enabling said split links to be swung.through approximately 90 degrees Vso that. the openings inthe C-shape'dhalf links lie in registration with said web, to permit'said halves ofsaid split link'to separate,`the openings in said v"Cl-shaped half.linksV being atleast as great as the thickness of said web. 1

V said main links liein positions of approximately Y face, an integralportion formed with a socket for driving cooperation with a tooth of asprocket wheel, and a web adjacent each end having its faces generallyparallel to each other, normal to said carrying face, and extending inthe direction of the length of the link, each web having an aperturefrom face to face, and anrauxiliary link connecting each pair ofadjacent webs of adjacent Vmain links, each auxiliary link having .anelongated, closed loop body passing through said apertures in adjacentwebs to form the connection between adjacent main links, the body ofeach auxiliary link being split in a direction generally lengthwise intotwo sections of Yvertically f elongated superposedr C sections havingthe Agap Vin eachv C superimposed at the opposite,V closed side of theCv of the vother section, said gap vbeing of a length greater thanthethickness of a web, whereby the closed side of the C of each sectioncloses the gap in the C of the other section, said sections havingcomplementary interlocking portions in, their abutting faces limitingsliding of said sectionsv on said faces, the length of the loop of eachauxiliary link is such as to be held by the main links iny,approximately end to end relation when the major axis of the loop islengthwise of the assembly, but with insufficient Width to' enable theloopv to be turned crosswise ofV the assembly length when the main linksare aligned endto end, thel d-istances from the apertures of the webs tothelower edges of the webs being less than half the minor diameter ofspace within the loops of the auxiliarylink's, whereby when the` mai-nlinks are swung face to face, the auxiliary links can be tured toplacethe loops crosswise and enable separation of the sections Vand'thenseparation ofthe main links connectedtherebyA FRANK L. KLAIBER. HARLANVc. CLARK.r

